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NATIONAL LEAGUE; DAVIS'S BARRAGE FLATTENS PHILLIES

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Eric Davis hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs today, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Davis, a 24-year-old center fielder, went 4 for 5 and scored 4 runs. In the three-game series he went 9 for 14 with 5 homers, including a grand slam Friday night, 11 runs batted in and 7 runs scored. He leads the major leagues with 12 homers and a .411 batting average and shares the major league lead with 27 runs batted in.

''I saw the ball real good and got good pitches to hit,'' Davis said after today's game. ''I didn't especially try to hit homers. I just let things happen.''

''You can't anticipate anything like this,'' he added. ''I just try to go out and do my job. I'm young and I'm still learning.''

Davis singled, stole second and scored on Bo Diaz's single in the first inning.

The Reds hit three home runs in the third, knocking out Kevin Gross (0-4). Gullickson led off with his second career homer and Kal Daniels followed with his eighth of the season. Two outs later, Davis hit one over the right-field fence.

In the fourth, a single by Gullickson and two walks loaded the bases before Davis's slam off Dan Schatzeder made it 8-0.

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Davis's third homer of the game, in the sixth, gave the Reds a 9-3 lead.

Attempting to tie the major league record of four home runs in a game, Davis struck out in the eighth inning against Wally Ritchie, a rookie, in his final time at bat. CUBS 4, PADRES 2 CHICAGO (AP) - Andre Dawson hit a homer, double and single for Chicago.

The Padres lost for the fifth straight time, dropping to 6-20, the worst record in the major leagues. The Cubs won for the ninth time in their last 12 games to move within a half-game of first-place St. Louis in the National League East. The Cardinals' game with the Dodgers was rained out in St. Louis.

Rick Sutcliffe (4-2) retired the first 12 batters before giving up a pair of singles in the fifth. He gave up seven hits and struck out seven in eight and one-third innings. Lee Smith got the last two outs for his eighth save.

Dawson's ninth home run of the year, a bases-empty blast into the left-field seats, came in the seventh inning and gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead. BRAVES 5, ASTROS 3 ATLANTA (AP) - Ken Oberkfell and Ken Griffey drove in two runs apiece to lead Atlanta.

Mike Scott (3-2) took the loss, giving up six hits in five innings while striking out one and walking three.

Zane Smith (3-1) got the victory and Jeff Dedmon recorded the final five outs for his first save.

A version of this article appears in print on May 4, 1987, on Page C00005 of the National edition with the headline: NATIONAL LEAGUE; DAVIS'S BARRAGE FLATTENS PHILLIES. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe